Note: Javascript is disabled or is not supported by your browser. For this reason, some items on this page will be unavailable. For more information about this message, please visit this page: About CDC.gov.

Public Health Statement for Beryllium

This Public Health Statement is the
summary chapter from the Toxicological
Profile for Beryllium. It is one in a series of Public
Health Statements about hazardous substances and their health
effects. A shorter version, the ToxFAQs™,
is also available. This information is important because this
substance may harm you. The effects of exposure to any hazardous
substance depend on the dose, the duration, how you are exposed,
personal traits and habits, and whether other chemicals are
present. For more information, call the ATSDR Information
Center at 1-888-422-8737.

This public health statement tells you
about beryllium and the effects of exposure.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
identifies the most serious hazardous waste sites in the nation.
These sites make up the National Priorities List (NPL) and
are the sites targeted for long-term federal cleanup activities.
Beryllium has been found in at least 535 of the 1,613 current
or former NPL sites. However, the total number of NPL sites
evaluated for this substance is not known. As more sites
are evaluated, the sites at which beryllium is found may increase.
This information is important because exposure to this substance
may harm you and because these sites may be sources of exposure.

When a substance is released from a large
area, such as an industrial plant, or from a container, such
as a drum or bottle, it enters the environment. This release
does not always lead to exposure. You are exposed to a substance
only when you come in contact with it. You may be exposed
by breathing, eating, or drinking the substance, or by skin
contact.

If you are exposed to beryllium, many
factors determine whether you'll be harmed. These factors
include the dose (how much), the duration (how long), and
how you come in contact with it. You must also consider the
other chemicals you're exposed to and your age, sex, diet,
family traits, lifestyle, and state of health.

1.1 What is beryllium?

Beryllium is an element that occurs naturally.
It is present in a variety of materials, such as rocks, coal
and oil, soil, and volcanic dust. Two kinds of mineral rocks,
bertrandite and beryl, are mined commercially for the recovery
of beryllium. Very pure gem‑quality beryl is better
known as either aquamarine (blue or blue-green) or emerald
(green). Beryllium is the lightest metal. A key distinction
among beryllium compounds is that some are soluble in water,
but many are not.

Most of the beryllium ore that is mined
is converted into alloys (mixtures of metals). Most of these
alloys are used in making electrical and electronic parts
or as construction materials for machinery and molds for plastics.
Beryllium alloys are also used in automobiles, computers,
sports equipment (such as golf clubs and bicycle frames),
and dental bridges. Pure beryllium metal is used in nuclear
weapons and reactors, aircraft and space vehicle structures,
instruments, x‑ray machines, and mirrors. Beryllium
oxide is also made from beryllium ores and is used to make
specialty ceramics for electrical and high-technology applications.
More information on the chemical and physical properties,
production, and uses of beryllium is found in Chapters 4,
5, and 6.

1.2 What happens to beryllium when it enters
the environment?

Beryllium enters the air, water, and
soil as a result of natural and human activities. Emissions
from burning coal and oil increase beryllium levels in the
air. In air, beryllium compounds are present mostly as fine
dust particles. The dust eventually settles over land and
water. Rain and snow aid in removing beryllium from air.
Extremely small beryllium particles may remain in the air
for about 10 days. Beryllium enters waterways from the
wearing away of rocks and soil. Most beryllium products of
human origin that enter waterways come from industry discharges
of waste water and from beryllium dust in the air from industrial
activities settling over water. Most of the beryllium in
water settles in the material on the bottom with sediment.
Insoluble beryllium compounds remain in ocean water for a
few hundred years before settling to the bottom of the ocean.
Beryllium, as a chemical component, occurs naturally in soil;
however, disposal of coal ash, incinerator ash, and industrial
wastes may increase the amount of beryllium in soil. A major
portion of beryllium in soil does not dissolve in water and
remains bound to soil, so it is not likely to move deeper
into the ground and enter groundwater. In the environment,
chemical reactions can change the water-soluble beryllium
compounds into insoluble forms. In some cases, water-insoluble
beryllium compounds can change to soluble forms. Exposure
to water-soluble beryllium compounds in the environment, in
general, will pose a greater threat to human health than exposure
to water-insoluble forms.

The amount of beryllium that has been
measured in the air in different parts of the United States
by EPA ranges from not detected to 2 millionths of a
gram per cubic meter (g/m³). Very small dust particles
of beryllium in the air fall out of the air onto surface water,
plant surfaces, and soil either by themselves or when rain
or snow falls. These beryllium particles eventually end up
back in the soil or in the bottoms of lakes, rivers, and ponds,
where they stay and mix with beryllium that is already there.

Beryllium in water comes from different
sources. Most of it comes from dissolving beryllium out of
rocks and soil that water runs over and through. Only a very
small part is from the settling of beryllium dust out of the
air. Some beryllium is suspended in muddy-like (cloudy) water.
EPA has found that the levels of beryllium in drinking water
in different parts of the United States are extremely low
in most cases, and that water containing beryllium at these
commonly observed levels is safe to drink. Fish do not accumulate
beryllium from water into their bodies to any great extent.
Some fruits and vegetables such as garden peas, kidney beans,
and pears may have above average levels of beryllium (see
Chapter 6). Most of the beryllium that gets into livestock
is eliminated quickly in urine and feces.

Beryllium is found in soil in amounts
that vary over a wide range, but the typical concentration
is 3 thousandths of a gram/kilogram (g/kg) of soil. Additional
beryllium can be added by industrial activities. Soluble
beryllium compounds can combine with other substances in the
environment to form other beryllium compounds. Beryllium
compounds may stay in the soil for thousands of years without
moving downward into groundwater. In addition to the beryllium
found naturally in minerals, beryllium metal and compounds
that are left after humans mine and process the minerals can
be released back into the environment as landfill waste.
More information about the fate and movement of beryllium
in the environment is found in Chapter 6.

1.3 How might I be exposed to beryllium?

You can be exposed to normal levels of
beryllium by breathing air, eating food, or drinking water
that contains beryllium. In the United States, the average
concentration of beryllium in air is 0.03 nanograms (ng)
(1 ng=1 billionth of a gram) in a cubic meter (ng/m³)
of air. In U.S. cities, the average air concentration is
higher, and its value is 0.2 ng in a cubic meter (m³)
of air. Cities have higher levels of beryllium in the air
because beryllium is released from burning coal and fuel oil.
The amount of beryllium that has been measured in drinking
water in different parts of the United States by EPA is generally
less than 2 trillionths of a gram for every liter of
water. Beryllium was found in only 5% of 1,577 drinking
water samples obtained throughout the United States. Of these
positive samples, the average beryllium concentration was
only 190 ng in a liter (L) of water. Beryllium, as a
chemical component, is found naturally in some food. The
concentration of beryllium in both raw carrots and field corn
grown in the United States is less than 25 micrograms
(µg) (1 µg=1 millionth of a gram) in a
kilogram (kg) of the fresh vegetables. Thus, in comparison
with other harmful elements, such as lead and chromium, to
which we are (by necessity) exposed on a daily basis, beryllium
exposure is not significant.

In certain workplaces, you can be exposed
to higher-than-normal levels of beryllium, mostly in the form
of beryllium oxide and beryllium metal. Occupational exposure
to beryllium occurs at places where the chemical is mined,
processed, or converted into metal, alloys, and other chemicals.
Workers engaged in machining metals containing beryllium,
recycling beryllium from scrap alloys, or using beryllium
products may also be exposed to higher levels of beryllium.
The number of workers exposed to beryllium or beryllium compounds
has been estimated to be 21,000.

As a member of the general public, you
may be exposed to higher-than-normal levels of beryllium if
you live near an industry that processes or uses beryllium.
People who live near hazardous landfill sites that contain
high concentrations of beryllium may also be exposed to higher-than-normal
levels of beryllium. Beryllium, as a chemical component,
occurs naturally in tobacco and may be inhaled from cigarette
smoke. People who smoke may breathe higher-than-normal levels
of beryllium than people who do not smoke.

Beryllium metal and metal alloys may
be found in consumer products such as electronic devices (e.g.,
televisions, calculators, and personal computers) and special
nonsparking tools. Direct contact with beryllium metal and
metal alloys is not likely, since these materials are typically
enclosed within a protected case that prevents exposure.
No other consumer products or products used in crafts, hobbies,
or cottage industries contain significant amounts of beryllium.
It is therefore unlikely that beryllium present in consumer
products poses any hazard. More information about beryllium
exposure can be found in Chapter 6.

1.4 How can beryllium enter and leave my body?

Beryllium can enter your body if you
breathe air, eat food, or drink water containing it. Beryllium
will not enter your body from skin contact with the metal
unless the skin is scraped or cut and beryllium particles
become imbedded in the wound. Only a small amount of beryllium
may enter your body if your skin comes into contact with a
beryllium salt dissolved in water. When you breathe air containing
beryllium, beryllium particles can be deposited in the lungs.
The beryllium that you breathe in slowly dissolves in the
lungs and moves slowly into the bloodstream. Some of the
beryllium deposited in the lungs can be moved to the mouth
and then swallowed; the rest can remain in your lungs for
a long time. If you eat food or drink water that contains
beryllium, less than 1% passes from your stomach and intestines
into the bloodstream. Therefore, most of the beryllium that
you swallow leaves your body through the feces without entering
the bloodstream. The small amount of beryllium that moves
from the lungs, stomach, and intestines into the bloodstream
is carried by the blood to the kidneys. Beryllium leaves
the kidneys by the urine. Some beryllium can also be carried
by the blood to the liver and bones where it may remain for
long periods. If you swallow beryllium, beryllium leaves
the body in a few days. However, if you inhale beryllium,
it may take months to years before your body rids itself of
beryllium. This is because it takes a long time before all
the beryllium in the lungs enters the bloodstream. For more
information, please read Chapter 3.

1.5 How can beryllium affect my health?

To protect the public from the harmful
effects of toxic chemicals and to find ways to treat people
who have been harmed, scientists use many tests.

One way to see if a chemical will hurt
people is to learn how the chemical is absorbed, used, and
released by the body; for some chemicals, animal testing may
be necessary. Animal testing may also be used to identify
health effects such as cancer or birth defects. Without laboratory
animals, scientists would lose a basic method to get information
needed to make wise decisions to protect public health. Scientists
have the responsibility to treat research animals with care
and compassion. Laws today protect the welfare of research
animals, and scientists must comply with strict animal care
guidelines.

Beryllium is a metal that can be harmful
when you breathe it. The effects depend on how much and how
long you are exposed to it. When you breathe it in, beryllium
can damage your lungs. When you breathe in large amounts
of soluble beryllium compounds (greater than 1 mg beryllium
per cubic meter of air, 1 mg/m³), the lung
damage resembles pneumonia with reddening and swelling of
the lungs. This condition is called acute beryllium disease.
The lung damage may heal if beryllium exposure is stopped.
Human studies have shown that occupational and community ambient
air standards were effective in eliminating most acute lung
disease. Some people can become sensitive to beryllium.
This is known as hypersensitivity or allergy. If you become
sensitive (allergic) to beryllium, you may develop an immune
or inflammatory reaction to small amounts of beryllium that
do not cause effects in people who are not sensitive to beryllium.
When this occurs, white cells accumulate around the beryllium
and form a chronic inflammatory reaction called granulomas
(granulomas are not tumors). This condition is called chronic
beryllium disease (CBD). This disease can occur long after
exposure (10-15 years) to small amounts of either soluble
or insoluble forms of beryllium (greater than 0.0005 mg/m³).
If you have this disease, you may feel weak, tired, and have
difficulty breathing. Some individuals that have CBD may
experience anorexia, weight loss, and blueness of hands and
feet. This disease could also lead to heart enlargement and
heart disease in advanced cases.

Both the short-term, pneumonia-like disease
and the chronic beryllium disease can be fatal. Exposure
levels associated with acute or chronic beryllium disease
are more 100,000 times higher than normal air levels
of beryllium. Long periods of exposure to beryllium have
been reported to cause cancer in laboratory animals. Some
studies of workers reported an increased risk of lung cancer.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the International
Agency for Research on Cancer have determined that beryllium
and beryllium compounds are human carcinogens. EPA has determined
that beryllium is a probable human carcinogen. EPA has estimated
that lifetime exposure to 0.00004 mg beryllium/m³
can result in a one in a thousand chance of developing cancer.
We do not know if breathing air, eating food, or drinking
water that contains beryllium or having skin contact with
beryllium has any effects on reproduction or causes birth
defects in humans or animals. Swallowing beryllium has not
been reported to cause effects in humans because very little
beryllium can move from the stomach or intestines into the
bloodstream. Ulcers have been seen in dogs ingesting soluble
beryllium salts in the diet. Beryllium contact with skin
that has been scraped or cut may cause rashes or ulcers.
If you have developed an allergy to beryllium and have skin
contact with it, you can get granulomas on the skin. These
skin granulomas appear as a rash or as nodules. The skin
granulomas are formed in the same way that lung granulomas
are formed in sensitive people. For more information on how
beryllium can affect your health, please read Chapter 3.

1.6 How can beryllium affect children?

This section discusses potential health
effects from exposures during the period from conception to
maturity at 18 years of age in humans.

It is likely that the health effects
seen in children exposed to beryllium will be similar to the
effects seen in adults; chronic beryllium disease was found
in a child living near a beryllium factory. We do not know
whether children differ from adults in their susceptibility
to beryllium.

We do not know if exposure to beryllium
will result in birth defects or other developmental effects
in people. The studies on developmental effects in animals
are not conclusive. We have no information to suggest that
there are any differences between children and adults in terms
of how much beryllium will enter the body, where beryllium
can be found in the body, and how fast beryllium will leave
the body. It is likely that beryllium can be transferred
from the mother to an infant in breast milk or that it can
cross the placenta.

1.7 How can families reduce the risk of
exposure to beryllium?

If your doctor finds that you have been
exposed to significant amounts of beryllium, ask whether your
children might also be exposed. Your doctor might need to
ask your state health department to investigate.

Higher-than-normal levels of beryllium
may be in soil at hazardous waste sites. Some children eat
a lot of dirt. You should prevent your children from eating
dirt. Make sure they wash their hands frequently, and before
eating. If you live near a hazardous waste site, discourage
your children from putting their hands in their mouths or
from engaging in other hand-to-mouth activities. Some children
may be exposed to beryllium by contact with a family member
who works in a facility using beryllium. If you work at a
facility that uses beryllium, make sure you change your clothes
and clean your hair and skin before leaving your job and returning
home. Also, do not bring objects home such as works tools
that may be contaminated with beryllium.

1.8 Is there a medical test to determine
whether I have been exposed to beryllium?

Beryllium can be measured in the urine
and blood, but the amount of beryllium in the urine or blood
may not reflect the amount to which you were exposed. The
measurement of beryllium in urine and blood may not determine
how recently you were exposed. Small amounts of human lung
and skin can be removed from the body and examined to determine
whether beryllium is present in these tissues. These tests
can be done in a doctor's office or in a hospital. While
high levels of beryllium in urine, blood, or tissues indicate
that you were exposed to an excessive amount of beryllium,
low levels of beryllium do not necessarily mean that you were
not exposed to an excessive amount. A blood test called the
beryllium lymphocyte proliferation test (BeLPT) can determine
if you have become sensitive to beryllium and may have chronic
beryllium disease. For more information, please read Chapters 3 and 7.

1.9 What recommendations has the federal
government made to protect human health?

The federal government develops regulations
and recommendations to protect public health. Regulations
can be enforced by law. Federal agencies that develop
regulations for toxic substances include the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA), the Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA), and the Food and Drug Administration
(FDA). Recommendations provide valuable guidelines to protect
public health but cannot be enforced by law. Federal
organizations that develop recommendations for toxic substances
include the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
(ATSDR) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety
and Health (NIOSH).

Regulations and recommendations can be
expressed in not-to-exceed levels in air, water, soil, or
food that are usually based on levels that affect animals;
then they are adjusted to help protect people. Sometimes
these not-to-exceed levels differ among federal organizations
because of different exposure times (an 8‑hour workday
or a 24‑hour day), the use of different animal studies,
or other factors.

Recommendations and regulations are also
periodically updated as more information becomes available.
For the most current information, check with the federal agency
or organization that provides it. Some regulations and recommendations
for beryllium include the following:

OSHA has set a limit of 2 µg
beryllium/m³ of workroom air for an 8‑hour
work shift. NIOSH recommends a standard for occupational
exposure of 0.5 µg beryllium/m³ of
workroom air during an 8-hour shift to protect workers from
the increased cancer risk associated with beryllium exposure.
EPA restricts the amount of beryllium released into the air
to 0.01 µg beryllium/m³ of air,
averaged over a 30-day period. The Department of Energy (DOE)
has developed a program to reduce beryllium exposure in workers
at DOE facilities. EPA has set a maximum allowable amount
of 0.004 mg/L beryllium in drinking water. For more
information, please read Chapter 8.

ATSDR can also tell you the location of occupational and environmental health clinics. These clinics specialize in
recognizing, evaluating, and treating illnesses resulting from exposure to hazardous substances.